United against hunger

By SENIORL ANZU of NARI

Research organisations and governments working together. Such is a positive move against  hunger in PNG

The need for greater collaboration and partnership at all levels in the fight against world hunger is a strong call at this year’s World Food Day, which took place last weekend – October 16.

This is the message from the theme, ‘United Against Hunger’, which was chosen to recognise the efforts made in defeating world hunger at national, regional and internationals levels. This theme is closely related to last year’s in ‘achieving food security in times of crisis’.

Uniting against hunger becomes real when state and civil society organisations and the private sector work in partnership at all levels to defeat hunger, extreme poverty and malnutrition, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations.

There are regional and international partnerships emerging around this course.

International organisations, particularly the Rome-based United Nations agencies [Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), World Food Programme (WFP)] have realised the key strategic role they play in directing global efforts to reaching the Millennium Development Goal # 1 - eradicate extreme poverty and hunger – which calls for halving the hungry people in the world by 2015.

The World Food Security initiatives are shouldered by the UN system and other players in the area of food security and nutrition.

They include the civil society, NGOs and representatives of all relevant people affected by food insecurity, international agricultural research institutions, financial institutions and development banks, donors, trade organisations, and will be open to the private sector and philanthropic foundations.

In some 30 countries, national alliances composed of civil society organisations and government agencies are actively collaborating together to promote advocacy and awareness-raising activities.

In 2009, the World Summit on Food Security, or hunger summit, adopted a declaration renewing the commitment made at the 1996 World Food Summit to eradicate hunger sustainably from the face of the earth.

The declaration also called for an increase in domestic and international funding for agriculture, new investments in the rural sector, improved governance of global food issues in partnership with relevant stakeholders from the public and private sector, and more action to face the threat climate change poses to food security.

In 2009 also, the “1 billion hungry project” commenced reaching out to people through online social media to invite them to sign the anti-hunger petition at www.1billionhungry.org.

The petition is a reflection of the moral outrage of global hunger situation.

The PNG Department of Agriculture and Livestock announced the concept last week, inviting citizens to participate in signing the hunger petition in Port Moresby.

Immediate dialogue and collaborations in PNG and the Pacific are paramount.

This is so especially when the country is faced with challenges in climate change, pest and disease outbreak (potato late blight, cocoa pod borer), El Nino and La Nina cycles, land degradation and population pressure.

 The country is classified among 80 with Low Income Food Deficit by FAO, a categorisation based on the increasing quality of food imports, particularly cereal, as well as the per capita energy supply.

Further, the malnutrition rates are among the highest globally.

There is widening gap between the growing demand for food, particularly in the urban areas, and static domestic production which is largely filled by food imports, according to PNG National Food Security Policy 2000-2010 (PNGNFSP).

 This is the blueprint developed to create awareness and seek support to increase and diversify food production, processing and preservation, marketing and distribution in order to achieve greater self-sufficiency in food and attain for security at the national, provincial, district and household levels by the year 2015.

Threats to food security may arise from shortfalls in subsistence food production, very low cash income or both, according to agricultural expert, Mike Bourke.

The threats may be long-term (such as those caused by an extreme climate event) or short-term (such as a very low cash income and no access to land).

However, when there have never been so many hungry people in the world on this World Food Day 2010, FAO encourages the world population to reflect on the future.

“With willpower, courage and persistence – and many players working together and helping each other – more food can be produced, more sustainably, and get into the mouths of those who need it most.”

PNG also has the chance to improve its production and productivity of food and livestock and become food-assured and self-reliant.

PNG must not only produce enough for her own consumption but also for export to many needy countries.

PNG has the advantage because of its huge resource base and potential which are yet to be explored.

 This nation has just six million people with enormous agricultural resources such as vast land mass, fertile soils and favourable climate for various types and kinds of crops.

PNG has a rich bio-diversity and a variety of food species, fruits and nuts, and cash crops. Farmers can grow various crops including cereals and pulses together with a range of livestock species.

There are also abundant land and bio-mass, creating opportunities for bio-fuels as well.

PNG has made modest advances on the technology front in terms of improved varieties and practices for a range of agricultural commodities and environments.

This also means that there must be favourable policies towards agriculture with adequate funding.

These must be supported by governance and management of agricultural programmes and projects at all levels.

Pastor Joseph Kingal is dead

Wife and children in hospital after tragic road accident

CHRISTIANS and Lae residents were last night mourning the death outspoken spiritual leader and evangelist Pr Joseph Kingal (pictured above, right), who was killed in a road accident yesterday evening, The National reports.

Kingal and his family were involved in a tragic road accident at Zuming Bridge in Markham, about 120km out of Lae.

Kingal, his wife Susan, and their four children were returning to Lae from Madang when the accident happened.

Pr Sesere Kebei, who rushed to the accident site, said the vehicle, driven by Kingal, overshot the bridge and fell into the river.

It was not clear what caused the accident.

Kingal and his family were returning home after a week-long crusade in Madang.

The spiritual leader sustained fatal injuries to his head

and body, Kebei said.

“It appears he died at the site. It was a real tragedy,” he said.

Susan Kingal and one of the younger child sustained serious injuries but were believed to be in “serious but stable condition”, Kebei said.

Mutzing police station commander Sgt Alex Romosaso said Kingal was killed in the accident as he was driving his family to Lae in their family vehicle – a Toyota landcruiser trooper – late in the afternoon.

Staff members at Mutzing Health Centre tried frantically to stabilise the condition of the family before rushing them to Angau Memorial Hospital last night.

News about the accident spread quickly throughout Lae city and around the country.

Christian members and relatives around the city rushed to the Angau Memorial Hospital and waited for the family to arrive.

The family was brought to Angau hospital’s accident and emergency entrance and rushed to the operating theatre as family members, Christians and Lae residents held a prayer vigil.

The hospital was packed with people, and Kuima and G4S security guards worked hard to control the crowd, to ensure they were not in the way of medical staff.

A nurse contacted by The National last night said they were under strict instructions not to speak to anyone about the condition of the pastor and his family.

Kebei said he had known Kingal since university days.

“His impact and influence was extraordinary. He had a great heart and mind and was a very inspirational person.”

Joseph and Susan Kingal founded The Word, The Spirit, and The Cross Evangelistic Ministries Inc, in 1994. Since then, they had inspired, saved and healed thousands of people nationwide.

Kingal holds a degree in accounting from the University of Technology while his wife had graduated from Madang’s Divine Word University with a diploma in accountancy.

State caught in 8-year-old K100m bill

By PATRICK TALU

 

THE state has to fork out nearly K100 million to pay a construction company because of the failure to settle a debt that has been growing through interest for eight years, The National reports.

Treasurer Peter O’Neill confirmed last night that the government would hold talks with representatives of Australian-based Downer Construction (PNG) Pty Ltd to settle a contractual bill for work done on the Ramu Highway eight years ago.

An internet publication reported yesterday that Downer Construction had indicated filing a lawsuit against the PNG government in Australia for failing to pay an outstanding contract bill of A$31 million (more than K80 million) for the Ramu Highway upgrade completed in 2002.

According to WAtoday.com.au, an online column, the move to file a lawsuit was agreed last Wednesday during Downer’s general meeting.

At the meeting, it was anticipated that Ramu Highway revenue was booked in Downer’s June accounts after the company was satisfied that the amount owed was measurable.

The sum was determined by an international arbitral tribunal last November.

The publication reported that “Downer’s delegation to Port Moresby last month came back empty-handed, and the chatter around Port Moresby is that Downer will have to sue – possibly in the Australian federal court”.

“Even if Downer takes this path, it is hard to predict just what steps will be required to enforce an Australian judgment against the PNG government.”

A company spokesman was quoted as saying: ‘“Downer is continuing its discussions with the PNG government and is confident of reaching an amicable resolution in the coming weeks.”

Collecting a A$31 million bad debt that’s eight years overdue was a top priority for Downer, who had two representatives sent to Port Moresby to negotiate.

The outstanding amount related to a 127km road upgrade completed between 1998 and 2002, when aid funding from the European Development Fund saw Downer engaged to work on the Ramu Highway.

Treasurer O’Neill told The National Downer had approached his office over a bill that had been allowed to escalate because “someone was not doing his job”.

“They have approached my office. We are in discussion. They (government officials) have allowed the bill to escalate to K100 million.”

 

 

PEA talks terms with government

NEGOTIATIONS start today between the Public Employees Association and the Department of Personnel Management over salary and housing allowance for public servants, The National reports.

The current three-year agreement between the government and PEA will expire at the end of this month.

According to association execution executives, PEA would push to have the housing allowances for public servants increased to K250 a fortnight starting next year.

President Michael Malabag yesterday said if the government did not have the capacity to pay that amount for all public servants, the association would then push for K250 a fortnight to be applied only to PEA’s 15,000 financial members.

Other deals the association hoped to cut with DPM included:

* Salary increases to meet current and ongoing high standard of living plus the effect of the LNG and to stop a brain-drain on the public service;

* The 35% tax on final entitlements to be lowered to 15%;

* Risk allowances for public servants on Bougainville and Rabaul; and

* The push for the delivery of quality public services.

Malabag said the other issue to be raised and penned into the agreement would be the devolution of powers and discipline which had not been effective in the past.

Department of Personnel Management secretary John Kali, in a letter to Malabag last Monday, stated that many of the issues raised could be addressed outside of the negotiations including concessional tax rates of 35%, impact of DPM powers devolution, review of general orders and penalty clauses for heads of government agencies.

Kali stated that the substance of negotiations would focus on salary and work-related allowances including housing and allowances for attraction and retention; review of redundancy provisions and re-employment of retrenched officers and isolation of retirement from the current redundancy agreement.

 

Youths use game to go on rampage

By DANIEL M DAVID

 

SOUTHERN Highlanders who did not travel to Lae in Morobe to watch their rugby league team play Goroka Lahanis in the bemobile Cup grand final went on a rampage last Friday and smashed walls of the Agiru Centre and Bank South Pacific office branch, The National reports.

The group, comprising mainly youths, demanded last Thursday that the provincial government hire buses and trucks to take them to Lae to watch Mendi Muruks take on Lahanis.

Getting no response from the provincial administration, the frustrated youths, who were joined by informal sector vendors, pelted both buildings with rocks and other missiles.

Provincial administrator William Powi condemned the actions of the youths.

“People of Southern Highlands must understand that the provincial government is there to serve the whole population and not a few selfish individuals.

“Muruks is our team and we are proud of them making the grand final; genuine supporters have travelled to Lae on their own.

“I condemn the behaviour and primitive actions of these youths,” he added.

Powi said his office was not a sports office and, even though the provincial government had assisted the Muruks financially, the budget did not cater for supporters’ transportation.

“Police were outnumbered and did not make any arrests.

“But, there are youths who are known to police and they will be arrested,” the provincial administrator said.

Mendi police and provincial police commander Supt Terry Tei could not be reached for comments.

APEC issues declaration on food security

Issued by the 1^st APEC Ministerial Meeting on Food Security

 

Niigata, Japan, 17 October 2010 – At the conclusion of the 1^st APEC Ministerial Meeting on Food Security, APEC ministers adopted the Niigata Declaration on APEC Food Security.

 Meeting for the first time, in Niigata, Japan on Saturday and Sunday, APEC Ministers recognised the region’s vulnerability to food price spikes, population increases and constraints on agricultural production and how these issues impact long-term food security.

 They stated that trade plays a key role in food security. Improved food security in the region would contribute to the attainment of APEC’s human security goals and assist the implementation of the APEC Leaders’ Growth Strategy.

 APEC member economies agreed to collectively pursue shared goals of sustainable development of the agricultural sector and facilitation of investment, trade and markets.

 Ministers agreed that cooperation is required in order to help adapt to, and mitigate, climate change and to enhance disaster preparedness in the agricultural sector to help the region achieve a stable supply of food for its people. They agreed on the following actions:

 

• Expanding food supply capacity
• Enhancing disaster preparedness in agriculture
• Developing rural communities
• Confronting challenges in climate change and natural resource management

 Ministers also agreed that food security cannot be achieved without stable, efficient and equitable distribution systems that can deliver food to the whole population. To accomplish the goal of facilitation of investment, trade and markets, Ministers agreed that APEC economies should cooperate to:

 

·        Promote investment in agriculture

·        Facilitate trade in food and agricultural products

·        Strengthen confidence in agricultural markets

·        Improve agribusiness environment

·        Improve food safety practices

 

Ministers also endorsed an APEC Action Plan on Food Security, which identifies specific activities to be implemented by APEC economies to strengthen regional food security.

 With inputs from Food and Agriculture Organisation, Asian Development Bank, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the World Food Programme, the World Bank, the United Nations’ High-Level Task Force and the International Fund for Agricultural Development during the plenary session, Ministers recognised that meaningful consultation with relevant stakeholders is critical to making sustained progress towards our food security goals.

 APEC Food Ministers will convey the outcomes of their meeting to APEC Leaders in November when they meet in Yokohama, Japan.

 

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For the declaration, visit:

http://www.apec.org/apec/ministerial_statements/sectoral_ministerial/food_security/2010_fs.html

 

For more information please contact:

Michael Chapnick (in Japan): +65 9647-4847 (mobile) or mc@apec.org

Trudy Harris (in Singapore): +65 9898-3710 (mobile) or th@apec.org

 

 

 

Highlands Pacific targeted for role in Ramu mine

Australian listed company, Highlands Pacific, is being targeted in an on-line campaign – www.actnowpng.org/action - over its role in the controversial Ramu nickel mine.

Highlands Pacific is part of the consortium that owns the Ramu mine and which is planning to dump millions of tons of mine waste into the sea.

“Such dumping would not be permitted in Australia where Highlands Pacific is based”, says Effrey Dademo, programme manager for Act Now!

Highlands Pacific is also being targeted for its failure to condemn the intimidation of local landowners and their supporters who have suffered threats and violence after speaking out against the marine dumping plans.

“Highlands Pacific claims that it is a socially-responsible company with high ethical standards but we are not seeing those standards being applied at the Ramu mine”, Ms Dademo adds.

The on-line campaign, in which members of the public can send emails to the board of Highlands Pacific, can be viewed at www.actnowpng.org/action

 

For further information and comment contact Effrey Dademo on (765) 7689 5266 and at effrey@actnowpng.or